"Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, whose new coach Carlo Ancelotti coached James during his time with the Blancos, are waiting in the wings.

However, the significant interest is coming from the Premier League from both Manchester United and Manchester City.

Sport

Over to the Guardian, who report that City have pulled out of the race to sign central midfielder Paul Pogba.

Daniel Taylor writes: "Manchester City have left the way open for Manchester United to pursue Paul Pogba after deciding not to go after the France international as part of a summer of extensive transfer recruitment preparing for Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge."

He adds: "City’s stance indicates they have other priorities. Guardiola’s new employers have already brought in Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund and have been quoted a reputed £55m if they also want to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the same club. Gundogan’s arrival already increases the competition for places in midfield, with no plans for either Fernando or Yaya Touré to leave. As such, the link with Toni Kroos of Real Madrid can be discounted.

"As the Guardian revealed in April, City are also making plans to sign Aymeric Laporte despite the Athletic Bilbao centre-half being ruled out until August with a broken leg and dislocated ankle."

HIGHLY RATED: Aymeric Laporte (right)

Continuing the Laporte theme, the Daily Mail's Adam Crafton reports that the La Liga club have not given up hope on keeping the player yet.

"Athletic Bilbao intend to hold talks with central defender Aymeric Laporte this week as they make one last attempt to persuade him to remain in the Basque Country and spurn Manchester City's advances," he reports.

"French defender Laporte, 22, is one of manager Pep Guardiola's key targets as he seeks to bolster his new side ahead of his first season in English football.

"Laporte has a £39million buyout clause in his contract and City will have to meet this asking price if they are to secure the defender."

A number of news outlets followed up on Tuesday night's Aubameyang reports, with Sky Sports taking the extra step and analysing what the player would bring to City if he were to arrive. We know, if ifs and ands were pots and pans... City would have a team full of them!

Finally, City right back Bacary Sagna took part in France's press conference in Clairefontaine ahead of his country's Euro 2016 curtain raiser against Romania on Friday.

Sam Wallace was there for the Daily Telegraph and writes: "The Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna is one of the senior members of the squad who, at 33, has clear memories of the last tournament on French soil, the ground-breaking 1998 World Cup triumph in which Les Bleus were captained by Didier Deschamps, the current manager. When asked to draw comparisons with today’s team, Sagna, 15 when the 1998 tournament took place, chose to recall the pressure on the team from the French public and media.

“'I remember a lot of the criticism of the French team,” he said. “I remember that everybody had doubts about the team. That everyone was against the team and against the coach. The team was very strong though and they started the World Cup very well. I think we have to be inspired by what they did and the way they surprised everyone by winning the tournament.'”

First Team News

It’s 20 years to the day since football came home and that one long, hot summer when England believed…

On June 8 1996, the Three Lions met Switzerland in the tournament opener at Wembley with a whole host of players who would go on to represent City, either as players or as coaches, in their future careers.